By LOU PONSIOCVARSITY.COMLA HABRA – La Habra running back Josh Quezada announced today he has accepted a scholarship offer to play football at Brigham Young.

Quezada, one the county’s top running backs who led La Habra to its third consecutive CIF-SS championship, said the BYU’s coaching staff, along with the school’s emphasis on character, were the main reasons for the choice.

He plans to play running back and be part of the Cougars right away.

“They said I would fit in real good with their offense,” he said of the Cougars’ coaches.

“This choice was dependent on where I felt I would fit,” said Quezada, who made the announcement at the La Habra Community Center, where he was volunteering with several Highlanders’ teammates for a Christmas charity event called Operation Santa.

Quezada will also be leaving high school early.

He will graduate from La Habra on Jan. 13 and be on a plane to BYU on Jan. 15.

“When I looked into graduating early you get that edge that helps you out with everything in general, compared to when all the other guys come in June,” he said.

Quezada received offers from nine schools before narrowing his options to four: BYU, Utah, Washington and Hawaii.

After receiving home visits from all four schools over the past two weeks, it came down to Utah and BYU.

The only drawback is the Cougars’ grooming standards, which will require Quezada to cut his trademark long hair, which falls several inches below his helmet.

Quezada rushed for 2,114 yards and 26 touchdowns this season.

“This is the end of my high school career,” he said, “But the beginning of the second part of my life.”